Sometimes well-known actors and actresses accept really small paychecks to take part in movies. This can be at the start of their careers or later on. When actors and actresses are first starting, it is pretty common for them to take a small paycheck because any job is an opportunity to launch their careers. Later on, it can be because they want to work on small indie projects that don’t have large budgets. These indie roles can sometimes end up shooting them to superstardom, which means big paychecks in the near future.
Here are 15 well-known actors and actresses who received very little compensation for big-name films. Enjoy!
15. Harrison Ford – Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
There is an enormous amount of attention surrounding the casting of unknown actor John Boyega as the lead role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but back in 1977 there was another somewhat unknown actor cast in the original film. This was Harrison Ford when he took on the role of Han Solo, although he had achieved some fame when he worked with Lucas on the 1973 film American Graffiti. For his role as the key character, Ford received only $10,000, with the film earning a staggering $775.4 million at the box office. It did launch his career, however, and he would earn more in the following films, but it is quite a low amount, particularly since Mark Hamill reportedly earned $650,000 for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker. Despite this, we’re sure that playing Indiana Jones and roles in Blade Runner, Apocalypse Now, Witness, Patriot Games and dozens of other brilliant films more than make up for it.
Source: Screenshot via 20th Century Fox